Mirin

Although it sometimes gets confused with rice wine vinegar, mirin actually is a sweet rice wine used in Japanese cooking. Mirin has an alcohol content of 13 to 14 percent with a sweet, nutty flavor. It doesn't just flavor food. The sweetness also gives luster to sauces and glazes and can help them cling to food.

If you don't have mirin, there are many common suggestions for substitutions. Sherry is an ideal choice for replacing mirin in a recipe. You could also use sweet marsala wine. Or you can dissolve a small amount of sugar in a little white wine or sherry, perhaps a 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to 1/4 cup white wine.